The New York Times to start charging for online content, again – this time, metered
In September 2007, The New York Times decided to stop charging for online content as the ill-fated Times Select came to an end. Just over two years later and the newspaper is preparing to start charging again, with an announcement due in weeks, and a switch to a metered system within months.
It’s no secret that news media is rapidly changing from print to digital, with the Internet changing everything for newspapers all around the world. Most news organizations are currently trying to grapple with the evolution in how people access content, keeping their print editions going, albeit with generally dwindling circulations, while making the move to the Web.
However, moving content to the Web still requires the accumulation of revenue. Newspapers have two options open to them: moving content behind a paywall, charging everyone for the privilege of reading news that’s generally available elsewhere; remaining free and relying on the still-maturing and subject-to-change Web advertising.
After one failed attempt to hide behind a paywall, The New York Times is set to give it another go. New York Magazine reports:
After a year of sometimes fraught debate inside the paper, the choice for some time has been between a Wall Street Journal-type pay wall and the metered system adopted by the Financial Times, in which readers can sample a certain number of free articles before being asked to subscribe. The Times seems to have settled on the metered system.
The New York Times Chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. is thought to be preparing to make an announcement of the move behind a paywall in a matter of weeks. The move will then take place in a few months time, probably in the spring.
Executives at The New York Times are said to have considered three different paid options, although remaining free and relying on Web advertising was also backed by some. A metered system means readers will be able to view a certain amount of articles for free before being asked to pay for more access. The two rejected options were a Wall Street Journal-style system with parts of the site restricted and others free, and a full membership model with privileges for members.
This decision is sure to prove controversial and will result in far fewer readers visiting The New York Times‘ Web site. Most people will not pay for online content, and this is clearly a gamble for the newspaper. Whether it works out more profitable this time than last remains to be seen.
Related Posts:
January 18th, 2010
Sigh… i guess they figure three years was enough. The best move would be to leave it as is. Keep it free for all to read todays and yesterdays news and pay for anything else. Better yet, make it free Monday thru Friday and pay for weekends and back news. As long as a blogger can quote what you wrote, or paraphrase… it makes no sense to try and charge. How many people really read the whole thing online. They should really be switching to a pay for writer model. People like to read certain articles by their favorite writers and skip most everything else. I say its time to give the writers their due like the old days of newspaper. When writers were coveted and offered the world. If the papers treated their writers like the networks treat their newscasters you’d have a completely different ballgame. But, i digress… your average person wont pay as long as they can get the same blah..blah.. news from tv or online at their local newspaper. The ‘NewYork’ Times needs to figure out if they want to be local, national or global. You want to be global?? Then start by redesigning your website and start promoting your writing stars.